Mardi Gras 2024 in New Orleans: a preview of all parades, with dates and maps (2024)

The 2024 New Orleans Carnival season starts on Saturday, Jan. 6, and concludes onMardi Gras, Tuesday Feb. 13.

The list below is current and will be updated if changes occur.

Can't make it to the parades?Watch them from wherever you are on the NOLA.com Parade Cam.

Joan of Arc

Saturday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m., French Quarter

Joan of Arc led an army during the Hundred Years War. She also leads the charge into Carnival. Established in 2008, the annual parade is a birthday party for the martyred 15th-century, teenage warrior woman, who is the patron saint of New Orleans. That's her riding the golden horse on Decatur Street.

Blending history, anachronism, feminism, Crescent City cultural identity, marvelous costuming and a touch of Mardi Gras madness, the Joan of Arc parade is a must-see season starter.

For more information, visit the Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc website.

Phunny Phorty Phellows

Saturday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m., St. Charles streetcar route

Phormed in 1981, the Phunny Phorty Phellows is a rolling costume party that takes place aboard a St. Charles Avenue Streetcar. Not a parade per se, the Champagne-fueled, satirical streetcar ride draws a crowd at its starting spot at the Willow Street Car barn, as it heralds the start of the Carnival season in Uptown New Orleans.

The group takes its name from a bygone Carnival Club that marched from 1878 to 1898.For more information, visit the PPP website.

Funky Uptown Krewe

Saturday, Jan. 6, 7:05 p.m., St. Charles streetcar route

Established in 2019, the streetcar-borne Mardi Gras group, which is devoted to one of New Orleans best-loved musical styles, rolls behind the Phunny Phorty Phellows’ annual streetcar ride on the first day of Carnival.

Krewe members dispense hand-decorated, vinyl record albums from the windows of the streetcar. For more information, visit the f*ck Facebook page.

Société Des Champs Elysée

Saturday, Jan. 6 at 7, 8, and 9 p.m., N. Rampart Street streetcar route

Founded in 2017, the Societé des Champs Elysée Carnival club was meant as a downtown complement to the venerable Phunny Phorty Phellows streetcar-borne Carnival party. Unfortunately, since 2019 the N. Rampart Street streetcar line has been out of service, causing the Societé to be satisfied with a neighborhood bar crawl. But in 2024, the group is mobile once more in a rented trolly-style bus that will make three trips throughout the night.

Look for the imitation streetcar to leave the Holy Diver bar at 1200 St. Bernard Ave. It will turn right on N. Rampart Street, then right on Canal for one block, turning left on Elks Place, which continues onto Loyola Avenue. The imitation streetcar will reverse course at 1001 Loyola Ave. and return along the same route, ending at the corner of St. Claude Avenue and Elysian Fields Avenue

For more information, visit the krewe’s website.

Krewe of Mosaïque -- New in 2024!

Saturday, Jan. 13, 6 p.m., French Quarter

The new nighttime French Quarter parade will be composed of several individual marching groups that emphasize do-it-yourself, lighted costuming. The eclectic lineup includes the Krewe de Mayahuel, Conus, Mondo Kayo, Kreweleidoscope, hATTAS, Trashformers, Darth AF, … and Boleyns, Heavenly Bodies, and Haus of Thee Rising Dragons.

The foot parade starts at St. Ann and N. Rampart streets near Armstrong Park. It enters the Vieux Carre on St. Ann, turns left on Bourbon Street, right on St. Philip Street, left on Royal Street, left on St. Ann Street, left on Chartres Street, disbanding at Ursulines Street. For more information, read the Gambit preview.

Les Fous du Carnaval

Friday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m., Marigny and French Quarter

Founded in 2022, the 100-person parade is composed of the marching clubs Flora and Fauna, the Goddesses, the Hellarious Wingnuts - accompanied by brass bands. This year’s theme is “Big Clown Energy.”

The parade kicks off at the intersection of Chartres and Frenchman streets, proceeds to Royal Street where it turns left, then left again onto St. Philip Street, and right onto Decatur Street, concluding at Jackson Square.

For more information,visit the krewe’s Facebook page.

Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus

Saturday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., Marigny-French Quarter

The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a nerd-friendly, science fiction-oriented, foot parade named for Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, and Chewbacca, the furry "Star Wars" sidekick.

The assorted aliens, space heroes, robots, monsters, and cosmic musicians of Chewbacchus first hit the streets in 2011. With annual dues, starting at a mere $42, the do-it-yourself krewe grew to become what may be Carnival’s largest marching club, with 2000-plus members.

For more extraterrestrial information,visit the Chewbacchus website.

Krewe Boheme

Friday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m., Marigny - French Quarter

The krewe was inspired by absinthe, a formerly outlawed liqueur favored by Belle Époque artists, which is reputed to have hallucinatory properties. The dreamy Boheme parade sashayed through the downtown streets for the first time in 2019, led by their languid mascot, a green absinthe fairy -- imagine an Art Nouveau Tinker Bell that follows the Grateful Dead.

For further elucidation, visit the krewe’s Facebook page.

Krewe du Vieux

Saturday,Jan.27, 6:30 p.m., Marigny - French Quarter

Expect paper mache sexual allusions and political satire aplenty from this procession of costumed marchers, mule-drawn mini floats, and spirited brass bands. Established in 1987, Krewe du Vieux is known for the sort of recklessly adolescent humor that sensible, sensitive folks avoid. Which is why the rest of us wouldn’t miss it.

For more information visit the KDV Facebook page.

krewedelusion

CANCELLED -- Saturday, Jan. 27.

For its first 12 years, krewedelusion, one of Mardi Gras' most eccentric, eclectic parades, followed immediately behind Krewe du Vieux through most of its trek on Saturday night,but in 2023 the parade was moved to Sunday.

This year, krewedelusion is back in its usual slot behind Krewe du Vieux, though the time and starting and stopping points have not yet been determined.

Expect homemade min-floats, dance troupes, and marching groups including the Mexican Krewe de Mayahuel and Kreweleidoscope (formerly Krewe du Seuss).

For more information, consultthe krewedelusion Facebook page.

Krewe of Nefertiti

Sunday, Jan. 28, 1 p.m., New Orleans East

Premiering in 2020, the all-female brought Carnival parading back to the neighborhoods of New Orleans East for the first time since the Krewe of Minerva ceased parading there in 1992. Named for the legendary leader of ancient Egypt, the float parade rolls along Lake Forest and Read boulevards.

Attention Tank and the Bangas fans: This year’s Grand Marshal is none other than the marvelous Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball.

For more information on these queens of the Nilevisit the krewe website.

'tit Rex

Sunday, Jan. 28, 4 p.m., Marigny

Inspired by the shoe box parades traditionally created by New Orleans school kids during Carnival season, 'tit Rex (Little Rex) was founded in 2009 as an antidote to the lavish, big-footprint krewes such as Bacchus. Pronounced like the fierce dinosaur, the satirical do-it-yourself procession may be small, but it can have a big bite. Get there early for a good view.

For the smallest detailsvisit the 'tit Rex website.

Krewe of Cork

Friday, Feb. 2, 3 p.m., French Quarter

The rambling 400-member Royal Street foot procession is dedicated to sipping and sloshing vino, while sharing custom-made beads and other throws.

For a few more sips of information and route map, visit the Krewe of Cork website.

Krewe of Oshun

Friday, Feb. 2, 6 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

In its 24th year, the Krewe of Oshun is named for the Yoruba goddess of love and intimacy. The peaco*ck is the krewe’s symbol, and hand-decorated fans are its signature throw.

For more information visit the krewe Facebook page.

Krewe of Cleopatra

Friday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m.,St. Charles Avenue route

Named for the legendary Queen of the Nile, the all-female parade began rolling in 1972, previously on the West Bank.

For more information, visit the krewe’s website.

Krewe of ALLA

Friday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

The Krewe of ALLA first rolled in 1932. The krewe's title is a pun, based on the parade's original location in the Algiers neighborhood of the West Bank: AL for Algiers and LA for Louisiana. Riders toss hand-decorated Genie Lamps.

For more information visit the krewe’s website.

Krewe of Pontchartrain

THE TIME HAS CHANGED -- Saturday, Feb. 3, 9:30 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Established in 1975, the parade once rolled in New Orleans East, along its namesake lake. Look for the signature floats titled Super Grouper and Mr. Mudbug and occasionally celebrity grand marshals, such as composer Allan Toussaint, actor Red Buttons, baseball star Will Clark, singer Irma Thomas, and rocker Dee Snider.

Pontchartrain is the first of a six-parade lineup that begins before noon and lasts into the night.

For more information visit theKrewe of Pontchartrain website.

Legion of Mars

THE TIME HAS CHANGED --Saturday, Feb. 3, 10:30 a.m. or earlier,St. Charles Avenue route

Named for the Roman god of war, the Legion of Mars Carnival krewe was founded 10 years ago by combat veterans to honor people who have served in the military and civilian first responders. It previously rolled as part of the Krewe of ALLA and the Krewe of Freret parades, but in 2023 became a parade of its own.

For more information, visit the Legion of Mars website.

Krewe of Choctaw

THE TIME HAS CHANGED --Saturday, Feb. 3, 11:30 a.m. or earlier, St. Charles Avenue route

The parade, which has a Native American theme, first rolled on the West Bank in 1939, using 10 former U.S. mail wagons as floats. In 2013 Choctaw began parading on St. Charles Avenue. Look for the krewe’s signature hand-decorated wooden tomahawks.

For details of the parade visit the Krewe of Choctaw website.

Krewe of Freret

THE TIME HAS CHANGED --Saturday, Feb. 3, 12:30 p.m. or earlier, St. Charles Avenue route

Founded in 2011 by a handful of Loyola University grads, the Krewe of Freret is devoted to Carnival traditions and New Orleans’ musical heritage, as the enormous, animated Trombone Shorty float attests. Hand-decorated masks are the group’s signature throw.

In 2022, the Krewe of Freret welcomed members of the newly formed, all-female Krewe of Themis to its parade lineup. Themis, which is inspired by the Greek goddess of justice, broke away from the Mystic Krewe of Nyx, which was once arguably the largest Carnival parade.

For more information visit the KOF website.

Spartan Society

THE TIME HAS CHANGED --Saturday, Feb. 3, 1 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Formerly known as the Knights of Sparta parade, the krewe adopted the new title in 2022, when the formerly all-male krewe was joined by the Mystical Order of the Phoenix, founded in 2020 by 10 former members of the all-female krewe of Nyx.

For more information visit the Knights of Sparta website.The traditional, flambeaux-lit parade, which first rolled in 1981, is named for the mighty Greek warrior state.

Krewe of Pygmalion

THE DAY AND TIME HAS CHANGED -- Sunday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route, starting at Napolean and St. Charles Avenue

Formed in 2000, the krewe reveres King Pygmalion from Greek mythology, a sculptor who fell in love with his own ivory statue of a nymph, which subsequently came to life.

For more information, visit the Krewe of Pygmalion Facebook page.

Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale

Sunday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.,St. Charles Avenue route

Founded in 2013, the parade is composed of female riders that toss collectible hand-decorated compact mirrors that are meant to symbolize “a constant inward and outward reflection.”

For more information visit the Femme Fatale Facebook page.

Krewe of Carrollton

Sunday, Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Happy 100th birthday! Formed in 1924 by a group of Oak Street businessmen, the all-male Krewe of Carrollton is New Orleans’ fourth-oldest parading organization. According to the krewe website its floats were originally built on the chassis of garbage wagons, and it was the first to employ tractors to pull floats instead of mules. Throws include hand-decorated shrimp boots.

To see more of the krewe’s history visit the Krewe of Carrollton website.

Krew of King Arthur

Sunday, Feb. 4, 1:30 p.m.,St. Charles Avenue route

Formed in 1977, the co-ed Knights of King Arthur began as a West Bank parade that rolled with borrowed Krewe of Choctaw floats. The krewe moved to the Uptown route in 2001. Parade fans vie for glittery Holy Grails tossed from 40-plus floats.

For more legendary information visit the King Arthur website.

Krewe of Barkus

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2 p.m., French Quarter

An annual 15-block procession of costumed canines. The concept for the Krewe of Barkus dog parade first came about at a meeting oftelevision meteorologist Margaret Orr fan club. This year's theme is "Barkus and Barbie: Pawsitively Pink."

To snoop around for more information and a map, visit the Barkus website.

Mystic Krewe of Druids

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6:15 p.m.,St. Charles Avenue route

The krewe, composed of mysterious representatives of an ancient Celtic sect, debuted in 1998.Expect flourishes of social satire.

Mystic Krewe of Nyx

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

The all-female group, devoted to the goddess of night, first rolled in 2012 and rapidly rose to superkrewe status with almost 3,500 members.

Awell-publicized controversy and large-scale membership walkout in summer 2020 reduced ridership to 240 members.

The Nyx Sisters, as riders are known, toss hand-decorated purses.

For more information, visit the Nyx website.

Knights of Babylon

Thursday, Feb. 8, 5:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Founded in 1939, the krewe is named for the legendary kingdom on the banks of the Euphrates river. The Knights proudly adhere to old-time traditions including flambeaux lighting and floats with antique designs.

For more information visit the Knights of Babylon website.

Knights of Chaos

Thursday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

The all-male parade is celebrating its 23rd roll. Named for a state of disorder, the bitingly satirical Knights of Chaos is historically connected with the Knights of Momus, which began parading in 1872. Momus ceased parading in 1991.

Krewe of Muses

Thursday, Feb. 8, 6:30,St. Charles Avenue route

The all-female parade, founded in 2000, is one of the most popular in Carnival. Named for the inspirational demigoddesses of ancient Greek mythology, the parade passes through the Uptown Streets that are also named for them.

Look for a satirical theme as well as some of the most beautifully sculpted signature floats of any procession. Parade-goers compete to catch one of the krewe’s elaborately hand-decorated shoes that have become Crescent City keepsakes.Plus, Muses provides a steady stream of dance troupes, including the renowned Rolling Elvi and the Camel Toe Lady Steppers.

For more information visit the Muses website.

Mystic Krewe of Hermes

Friday, Feb 9, 5:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Founded more than eight decades ago, during theGreat Depression, Hermes is New Orleans’ oldest nighttime parade and arguably the most beautiful. Named for the wing-footed messenger of the gods, the all-male krewe’s brightly colored, skillfully sculpted floats are rolling masterpieces.

For more details visit the Krewe of Hermes website.

Krewe d'Etat

Friday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.,St. Charles Avenue route

Founded in 1998, Krewe d’Etat is like a rolling comic strip of three-dimensional cartoons that skewer local and national politics with particular gusto. Led by an anonymous dictator, the all-male krewe customerily crushes politeness and humility beneath its wheels. As the d’Etat website stipulates: “Le Krewe d'Etat has opened the door for other krewes showing their most sincere form of flattery by trying in vain to imitate what comes naturally to this unique group of Mardi Gras revelers.”

Don’t miss The Dictator’s Dancin’ Darlings topical dance troupe. Catching Hermes and then d’Etat is one of the great Carnival combos.

For more details visit the Krewe d'Etat website.

Krewe of Morpheus

Friday, Feb. 9, 7:00 p.m.,St. Charles Avenue route

Founded in 2000, the Morpheus parade is named for the god of dreams. Hense, the co-ed riders toss hand-decorated sleep masks.

For more information, visit the Morpheus website.

Krewe of NOMTOC

Saturday, Feb. 10, 10:45 a.m., Algiers neighborhood, West Bank

Founded by the Jugs Social Club, NOMTOC first rolled in 1970 and is now New Orleans' only West Bank Carnival procession. The name is an acronym of New Orleans Most Talked-Of Club.

For more information visit the NOMTOC website.

Krewe of Iris

Saturday, Feb 10, 11 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route

With roughly 3,500 riders, Iris is New Orleans’ largest all-women parade, and probably the biggest parade of all. Named for the goddess of the rainbow, the krewe proudly proclaims that in its six-decade history the Iris parade has never been canceled due to rain. As if to emphasize their meteorological optimism, riders toss hand-decorated sunglasses.

For more sunny information, visit the Iris website.

Krewe of Tucks

Saturday, Feb. 10, noon, St. Charles Avenue route

Along with Endymion, Bacchus and the Societe de Sainte Anne parades, the upstart Tucks parade emerged in the late 1960s to shake up stodgy old-school Carnival.

Founded by Loyola University fraternity brothers, it’s not terribly surprising that the co-ed Tucks parade brought bawdy bathroom humor to the world’s biggest par-tay. Expect an enormous commode float, a brothel float, a trampling of political correctness, a blizzard of tossed toilet paper rolls, and glittered plungers.

For more classy information visit the Krewe of Tucks website.

Krewe of Lafcadio

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m., French Quarter

Named for Lafcadio Hearn, the great 19th-century chronicler of Crescent City customs, and author of the first Creole cookbook. Each year the marching krewe crowns a celebrated chef as king.

The parade’s complicated trek begins at Antoine’s restaurant at 713 St. Louis Street and proceeds to Bourbon Street where it turns right, then right on Toulouse Street, left on Decatur Street, left on Barracks Street, left on Royal Street for several blocks, right on Bienville Street, right on Bourbon Street, and left onto St. Louis Street where it disbands. For a map and more informationvisit the Lafcadio website.

Krewe of Endymion

Saturday, Feb. 10, 4:15 p.m., From Mid-City to the Superdome

Arguably New Orleans’ most spectacular parade, the enormous all-male, 3,200-rider Endymion procession follows a unique path through Mid-City from City Park to the CBD. In December, the route was expanded to include part of St. Charles Avenue. Expect lavishly lit, segmented floats, celebrity riders, marching bands, and a hailstorm of beads during the marathon procession.

Endymion customarily finishes its route by rolling into Superdome, where a post-parade concert and party take place. But due to the ongoing renovation of the sports arena, the Endymion parade ended in the Morial Convention Center in 2024.

For more information, visit the Endymion website.

Krewe of Okeanos

Sunday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route

The 71-year-old krewe, named for the Greek god of oceans, once rolled on St. Claude Avenue before joining lineup on St. Charles Avenue. Look for collectible crawfish trays.

For more information visit the Krewe of Okeanos website.

Krewe of Mid-City

Sunday, Feb. 11, 11:45 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route

As the name suggests, the parade once rolled in the Mid-City neighborhood. But in 2002 it moved onto the Uptown route. Since its debut in 1933 the sparkling parade has been uniquely decorated with colored aluminum foil.

For more information.

Krewe of Thoth

Sunday, Feb. 11, noon, St. Charles Avenue route, from Napoleon Ave. to Canal Street

Named for the ibis-headed Egyptian god of wisdom, the all-male Thoth parade was designed 67 years ago to bring Carnival to those confined to hospitals and other institutions in the Uptown neighborhood. The procession begins several blocks farther Uptown than most parades, at State and Tchoupitoulas streets near Children's Hospital, before joining the usual St. Charles Avenue route.

For more information visit the Thoth website.

The Krewe of Bacchus

Sunday, Feb 11, 5:15 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Uptown's most spectacular procession, the all-male Bacchus parade rivals Endymion’s in pure extravagance and bead-throwing excess.Expect specialty floats including the Kong family of gigantic gorillas, the Bacchasaurus dinosaur, the segmented Bacchagator alligator, and the Bacchawhoppa whale.

Bacchus annuallyfeatures a celebrity grand marshal. This year, "Entourage" star Kevin Dillon was selected for the honor. Dillon follows in a glittering line legendary entertainers, includingHollywood icons, Charleton Heston, Nicolas Cage, Anthony Mackie, Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, and Jackie Gleason; musicians Glen Campbell, Pete Fountain and Harry Connick Jr.; television favorites Henry Winkler, William Shatner, and James Gandolfini; and athletes Hulk Hogan and Drew Brees.

For more information visit the Bacchus website.

Red Beans, Dead Beans, and the Krewe of Feijao

Monday, Feb 12, 2 p.m. Marching from the Marigny, Mid-City and Bywater to the Treme

Founded in 2009, the multi-part marching group is known for its homemade red bean mosaic costumes that honor one of the Crescent City's signature cuinary icons, red beans and rice, which is traditionally eaten on Monday. The Red Beans parade was one of several do-it-yourself Carnival processions that popped up in downtown New Orleans during the period of recovery after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flood.

The spin-off Dead Beans parade has a Mexican Day of the Dead vibe, while the Krewe of Feijao incorporates elements of both Cajun and Brazilian culture. This year look for Queer Beans, a new LGBTQ+ subgroup withinthe Krewe of Feijao.

For more information and various parade routes, visit the krewe website.

Krewe of Proteus

Monday, Feb. 12, 5:15 p.m., St. Charles Avenueroute

Founded in 1881, the organization is named for the Greek god of rivers and seas. The krewe favors small, exquisitely detailed 19th-century float design. The identity of the King of Proteus, who rides a seashell float, is a secret.

Krewe of Orpheus

Monday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Founded by singer, actor, and television personality Harry Connick Jr. in 1993, the co-ed parade reveres all things musical. Look for the glittering Leviathan, Trojan Horse and Smokey Mary floats, and call for oversized signature doubloons.

This year’s celebrity monarchs will be entertainers Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka.

For more information, visit the Orpheus website.

Black Masking Indians

Tuesday, Feb. 13, various locations

Not parades, per se, small “tribes” or “gangs” of Mardi Gras Indians,also called Black Masking Indians,emerge on Fat Tuesday morning and set out in the city’s neighborhoods in search of other Indians. The age-old costuming tradition symbolizes the interconnection of black and Native American cultures in New Orleans.

As the tribes travel, the maskers and their entourages sing traditional call-and-response chants that have inspired New Orleans' musical styles from rhythm and blues to funk to bounce.

When two Indian groups intersect, they compete to determine which has the prettiest “suits.” The flamboyant feathered suits, decorated with incredibly intricate bead work mosaics, are a unique New Orleans art form at the pinnacle of Mardi Gras costuming.

It’s difficult to predict exactly where wandering Mardi Gras Indians will appear, though North Claiborne Avenue near St. Bernard Avenue is a good bet.

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 8 a.m., Central City to Treme

Founded in 1909, Zulu has long been a touchstone of African-American culture in New Orleans. Crowds vie for a chance to catch hand-decorated Zulu coconuts, one of Carnival’s most coveted throws. The glittering coconuts were the inspiration for other hand-decorated throws – shoes, purses, fedoras, sunglasses, etc. – that are common among other parading organizations.

Zulu float riders parade wearing black and white facial makeup, a long-held custom that occasionally ignites controversy. The parade's most renowned grand marshal remains Louis Armstrong, who reigned in 1949.

For a detailed historical overview, visit the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club website.

Rex

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route

Each year the all-male organization selects a king, known as Rex, King of Carnival, who symbolically calls business and school to a halt across the city on Fat Tuesday in order to celebrate the holiday.

The krewe, which first paraded in 1872, is credited with introducing universal Carnival customs such as the purple, green and gold color scheme, the doubloon, and the surprisingly surrealistic song “If Ever I Cease to Love.”

The parade features a float surmounted by a giant white bull surrounded by chefs, which symbolizes the opportunity to dine on meat one last time before the start of Lent.

The theme of the 2024 Rex parade is “The Two Worlds of Lafcadio Hearn – New Orleans and Japan”

For more information, visit the Rex website.

Elks-Orleans and Crescent City truck parades

Tuesday, Feb. 13, following Rex, St. Charles Avenue route

For decades the truck parades have been an unsung part of the Fat Tuesday tradition. After Rex passes by, a seemingly endless convoy of hand-decorated semi-trailer trucks rumble along the Uptown route, with thousands of riders tossing beads and baubles. The parades, which can include over 100 trailers ridden by families and small organizations, can go on for hours, bidding farewell to Mardi Gras.

For more information visit the Krewe of Elks-Orleans parade website, and the Truck Parade of Crescent City website.

The Societe de Sainte Anne and other marching clubs

Tuesday, Feb. 13, morning, Bywater to French Quarter

For many, the Zulu and Rex parades are the climax of Carnival, others search the neighborhoods for Mardi Gras Indians. But some celebrants find their ways farther downriver to the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods where hundreds of do-it-yourself costumers gather at select intersections like flocks of surrealistic peaco*cks preparing to migrate en masse into the French Quarter.

The most spectacular of the many marching clubs is the Societe de Sainte Anne. The half-century-old costuming club was named for a mysterious 19th-century tomb that members discovered in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and is meant to be a throwback to the informal, 19th-century foot processions that preceded regimented float parades.

To behold the spectacle, stake out a place on Royal Street at Franklin Avenue or Kerlerec Street and follow the crowd into the Vieux Carre. To distinguish St. Anne from other marching groups, look for glinting standards made from hula hoops strung with fluttering ribbons.